Indira Gandhi was India's Prime Minister for 16 years. Her legacy is highly controversial. She caught the imagination of the People with the liberation of Bangladesh and defeating Pakistan in the ensuring war, but What was gained in the Bangladesh War was lost in the Simla Accord with Pakistan. Her most significant achievements were in the field of national security-the first atomic explosion in 1947 and active support to space programme. However, it was not easy to remain at the peak of popularity and the descent was quick and perilous.